RE: Surprised how different Bilsteins are to install
My experience was to not cut the strap until I had one end of the shock in it's mount and then pointed the other end of the shock towards the other mount, then I cut the strap and as the shock expanded, I guided the shock into the other mount. Then installed the nuts and/or bolts and the job was done. yes the shocks are real hard to compress, that's why I had the shock in one mount before cutting the strap. Worked for me.

RE: Warranty Maintanance requirements?
Keep all your receipts. Look at your owners manual for oil change frequency. Some manufactures have a mileage or time limit. Could be as soon as 6 months or every 12 months. Most oil change's on a MH will probably be a time limit instead of a mileage limit due to the fact they are not driven that many miles each year so if you go by miles you could possibly not comply with the manufactures specs, and they can deny a claim because you went over the time period for a oil change, say 14 months, instead of the required 12 months.
They can be real picky.

RE: No 110 at outlets
I agree, check the GFI and see if it has tripped. The GFI is usually in the bathroom and will be just like a 110 outlet but will have a couple of buttons in the middle. If one button is OUT, reset it and then check if the power has been restored.
GFI

RE: Dinghy ignition key
before you decide on what to do, keep in mind the shifting procedure that you must do when you own a CRV before towing. TO remove the ignition key from a CRV, you need to shift back to PARK before the key will come out. So you then need to put the key back in, start the engine and go through the whole shifting procedure again, which is start engine, shift to R, then to N, then to D, then to 2, then to 1, then back to 2, then back to D, then back to N and stop shifting at that point. If you accidently go to far and shift to R, you have made a mistake and must start all over. So if you use a non chipped key you have to go back past R at some point to get to Park to remove or install the key, which requires you to do the shifting procedure all over again, using a chipped key so you can start the engine. Too much trouble, just leave the key in the ignition and be done with it. The CRV procedure is spelled out in the owners manual, look in the index under "towing behind a Motor home". You will damage the tranny if you go back into R and then back into N without going into D, 2, and 1. SO read the manual, then go out and try to remove any key without shifting into park, it won't come out in any other position but PARK. make your decision with all these facts in your mind. I leave the chipped key in but I also have 3 padlocks on the tow bar before they can steal my CRV.

RE: How long until your holding tanks are full?
It could be that your plumbing is designed wrong and some gray water is draining into the black tank, filling that tank prematurely. You would have to do some testing to find out if it is the kitchen sink or the bathroom sink or both. Just a thought

RE: Brake Drum Scraping
Could be the Magnets rubbing on the drum rotor like they are designed to do. The magnets have a spring behind them to keep them positioned properly so when you apply the brakes, the electric magnets get energized, grab onto the drum rotor and apply the brakes. jack up the wheels one at a time and spin the wheel and listen. if you hear noising, just pull the drum and take a look. Visual inspection is about the only way to tell.

RE: Travelling with hot water tank full?
Bad idea to drain each time you move. One reason is when you get to the next camp and you forget to hook up the water hose and turn on the hot water faucets to expel all the air from the heater and hence fill the water heater, then you just happen to turn the electric side of the heater ON with no water in the tank and just like that you burn the element out. To save weight, do away with all those things you carry in you compartments and never use.

RE: no power when generator is off
Check the battery voltage with a volt meter, A fully charged battery should read 12.6 volts with the shore power unhooked and the generator OFF. Then plug in the shore power or start the gen set. Take another volt reading and if the convertor is working the reading should be 13.6 volts. If you don't get 13.6 volts your convertor is at fault and needs troubleshooting. Report your results and we can help you more from there.

RE: Sonora Pass with a small trailer & a competent truck?
I wouldn't do it, real tight turns and do you know how steep 26% really is?
But if you do decide to do think twice about not taking water in your tank. I don't remember there being piped water anywhere on the pass, but I could be wrong. It is the most scenic pass in the sierra's in my opinion. Have a great trip

RE: Why is Crater Lake a must-see?
we went to crater lake many years ago. I remember that you could not get down by the lake to dip your toes in the lake. maybe that has changed now but I have seen Crater Lake and probably will never go back.
I remember a Ranger talk at the campground about the bears and how they raid your ice chests. The bears take your ice chest over to the rim of the lake and throw it over and of course it then crashes open and the bears follow it down and have Dinner, breakfast, Lunch all the way down to the water.

RE: 2012 Hondra accord
I don't believe 2012 Honda accord is towable 4 down. Look in the index of the owners manual under "towing behind a Motor home" It will describe if you can or cannot tow 4 down and also describe how to tow with a tow truck.

RE: Water saving Shower Head
Oxygenics is what I recommend. Do this test, open both hot and cold faucets fully at the same time. with a stop watch, and a bucket, direct the stream into a bucket and start the watch. After one minute remove the stream and shut the water off. Then measure the amount of water in the bucket, my Oxygenics uses 1 and a half gallons per minute. So a 6 gallon water heater without adding any cold should stay hot for 4 minutes. Now add half cold water from the faucet and the time for the hot water goes up, You are now using 3/4 of a gallon of hot and 3/4 of a gallon cold per each minute. Your hot water should last 8 minutes. This is what I do when taking a shower, turn the hot faucet on full blast, when the water comes out hot, turn on the cold faucet until the temp is where you want it, get in a shower away.

RE: What is your BEST words of wisdom?
Learn to back up your 5er, then go to a empty parking lot and practice, use some orange cones to simulate a camp site. Although it is best to back up from the drivers side, also practice from the passengers side. Then practice some more. that way you don't provide the entertainment for the campground.
did I say practice?

RE: Ewww! The caulk is black!
The black is mold. Use a spray bottle with a mixture of household bleach and water. spray it on and let it sit for a while then use an old towel or rag to wipe it off. Might have to repeat again. wipe up any runs as you go. Wear old clothes as the bleach will turn the color on your clothes.

RE: Lightning Strike
your battery is dead, should be 12.6 volts for a full charge. Try plugging into shore power and then use multimeter to see if your convertor is charging your battery, If it is charging It should read about 13.6 volts. If it does not read around 13.6 it could be the battery is too dead that it won't take a charge or the convertor is bad.